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Illegal immigrants lose in FB vote
By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV
FARMERS BRANCH — Voters in Farmers Branch Saturday resoundingly endorsed a controversial ordinance that requires renters to be legal residents in the United States.
With all precincts reporting, 68 percent of voters said they favored the measure, an issue that has focused international attention on the Dallas suburb.
Seven polling places were established for the expected large turnout; the city usually has only one voting location for a municipal election.
At issue was Ordinance 2903, requiring landlords to verify a person is in the United States legally before they can rent or renew a lease or rental agreement.
The only exception would be for mixed-status families.
Several other cities across the nation have adopted or considered this type of legislation, but Farmers Branch is the first to put it before citizens in a vote.
Councilman Tim O'Hare, who spearheaded the ordinance, claims that illegal immigrants are having a negative effect on the city. He knows the city faces a legal challenge ahead.
"We will take this all the way to the Supreme Court if that's what we have to do," O'Hare declared after the vote. "Anyone that sues us, know that we will be aggressive pursuing them for our attorney fees when we prevail."
Supporters said they want to make it clear illegals are not welcome in Farmers Branch.
But opponents—while conceding that illegal immigration is a problem—maintained that this is a national issue and citizens who want to change the law should lobby the U.S. Congress.
"This is not the responsibility of the City of Farmers Branch or of any other municipality; this is the responsibility of the federal government," said ordinance opponent Elizabeth Vialla Franca. "For any municipality to try to take the job of the federal government is not going to fly."
Ordinance 2903 opponents also said enforcing the regulations and defending the city against the inevitable lawsuits will cost millions of dollars.
"I think you will see with the new Council—which will convene for the first time in about 10 days—you're going to see that we're not going to sit down and take these lawsuits lightly," O'Hare said. "We will vigorously defend them, and the right to do what we want to do in our town."
By DAN RONAN / WFAA-TV
FARMERS BRANCH — Voters in Farmers Branch Saturday resoundingly endorsed a controversial ordinance that requires renters to be legal residents in the United States.
With all precincts reporting, 68 percent of voters said they favored the measure, an issue that has focused international attention on the Dallas suburb.
Seven polling places were established for the expected large turnout; the city usually has only one voting location for a municipal election.
At issue was Ordinance 2903, requiring landlords to verify a person is in the United States legally before they can rent or renew a lease or rental agreement.
The only exception would be for mixed-status families.
Several other cities across the nation have adopted or considered this type of legislation, but Farmers Branch is the first to put it before citizens in a vote.
Councilman Tim O'Hare, who spearheaded the ordinance, claims that illegal immigrants are having a negative effect on the city. He knows the city faces a legal challenge ahead.
"We will take this all the way to the Supreme Court if that's what we have to do," O'Hare declared after the vote. "Anyone that sues us, know that we will be aggressive pursuing them for our attorney fees when we prevail."
Supporters said they want to make it clear illegals are not welcome in Farmers Branch.
But opponents—while conceding that illegal immigration is a problem—maintained that this is a national issue and citizens who want to change the law should lobby the U.S. Congress.
"This is not the responsibility of the City of Farmers Branch or of any other municipality; this is the responsibility of the federal government," said ordinance opponent Elizabeth Vialla Franca. "For any municipality to try to take the job of the federal government is not going to fly."
Ordinance 2903 opponents also said enforcing the regulations and defending the city against the inevitable lawsuits will cost millions of dollars.
"I think you will see with the new Council—which will convene for the first time in about 10 days—you're going to see that we're not going to sit down and take these lawsuits lightly," O'Hare said. "We will vigorously defend them, and the right to do what we want to do in our town."
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